Dirty Virtues The Emergence of Ecological Virtue Ethics

by Wensveen, Louke Van,

• ISBN13: 9781573926492
• ISBN10: 1573926493
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Humanities Press

Summary

This is the first extensive study of ecological virtue ethics and the new rhetoric of environmentalists. Based on a wide-ranging survey of environmental literature, Louke van Wensveen offers an overview of current "green" virtue language and proposes the basic elements of a matching ecological virtue theory, dubbed "dirty virtues" by ecological philosophers. Environmental ethics is not exhausted by debates about the need to preserve rivers, our duties to bio-regions, and the intrinsic value of non-human nature; rather, eco-literature also contains a rich virtue language. Highlighting the integrity, diversity, internal tensions, dynamism, and visionary character of this ecological virtue language, the author shows both its historical roots and innovative features. Van Wensveen illustrates a widespread awareness of attitudes and habits that help or harm our relations with the non-human world. She includes a unique catalogue of 189 virtues and 174 vices that mark the vision and praxis of people committed to ecological flourishing. The second part presents carefully crafted criteria to help discern genuine virtue and vice in an ecological age. Her arguments are distinguished by a critical balance of moral sources, including Aristotelian virtue theory, Christian tradition, women's experiences, psychological theory, and metaphorical representations of non-human nature. Methodologically innovative and boldly interdisciplinary, "Dirty Virtues" will challenge and inspire virtue theorists, as well as environmental ethicists and theologians.

Author Biography

Louke van Wensveen is assistant professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
PART I ECOLOGICAL VIRTUE LANGUAGE
The Emergence of Ecological Virtue Language	3	(19)
Something Old, Something New	22	(21)
The Virtue Ethic of Murray Bookchin	43	(19)
The Virtue Ethic of Thomas Berry	62	(25)
PART II ECOLOGICAL VIRTUE THEORY
Four Aristotelian Criteria for an Ecological Virtue Ethic	87	(10)
Ecological Vice: The Seven Deadly Sins Revisited	97	(18)
The Gender Construction of Virtue Discourse: Lessons from Experience	115	(16)
Sustainable Virtue: A Psychological Analysis of Courage	131	(16)
Nature and Ecological Ethics: A Working Typology	147	(14)
Conclusion	161	(2)
Appendix A: Catalogue of Ecological Virtues and Vices	163	(5)
Appendix B: Nature and Ethics: A Working Typology	168	(1)
Bibliography	169	(8)
Index	177